Any kind of Single Malt Scotch, lately I've been taking to the Islay varieties - Lagavulin, Laphroaig, etc. Lots of peat smoke - not for the Scotch rookie, but great for something really different. Then there's always The MacCallan.

Can't let this go without mentioning the exquisite Port I had a couple weeks ago in a great luxury bar in downtown Atlanta. It was a Grahame 1985 and even at 24.50 a glass it was worth every penny! Had it at a fine resort in Lake Placid a few years back, saw it on the list and had to have it again.

Hehe, Actually you not far off. It started its life as a Red Death. But I can't stand the taste of Slow Gin. So I eliminated it as well as the OJ and added a splash of lime juice. I call it a DUI but that is really just a joke. Deffinantly not a one for the road kinda thing.

I have a hard time believing this. What about when the vermouth is in transit, or poured into the mixing (stirring) glass?

The main reason to stir and not shake a martini (or any other almost-clear cocktail) is to prevent the drink from becoming cloudy. The martini is supposed to look clear, although a few minutes after shaking, it will clear up anyway.

The other issue is how much water ends up in the finished drink and how cold it is. Shaking will make the drink colder and add more water from the melted ice cubes.

Got it from my mixology instructor. I never really probed what the definition of "bruising" was for Vermouth, but according to Google (does it ever lie ?), you can bruise the Gin, Vermouth and the cubes !!!! Maybe they should call a shaken martini the "Mike Tyson"